Can Economic Reforms Fix Africa’s Unemployment Problem?[Les réformes économiques : une solution contre le chômage en Afrique ?]

Unemployment remains one of the major economic challenges facing African countries, particularly among youth and low-skilled workers. In response, many governments have implemented ambitious structural reforms aimed at liberalizing key sectors of the economy. These reforms include the restructuring of network industries—such as electricity and telecommunications—as well as the relaxation of employment protection legislation. Such reforms are commonly presented as essential levers to stimulate investment, enhance productivity, and promote job creation. However, their actual effects on unemployment remain contested, especially in contexts characterized by high levels of informality and relatively fragile institutions. This study contributes to this debate by examining the impact of reforms in network industries and employment protection legislation on unemployment in Africa. It addresses the following question: to what extent do these reforms effectively reduce unemployment, and through which economic mechanisms do they operate?